Nuance Dictionary / Sounds & Sensations
꾸벅꾸벅 kku-beok-kku-beok
The rhythmic, involuntary head-bobbing of someone losing the battle to stay awake while sitting upright.
What does 꾸벅꾸벅 mean?
꾸벅꾸벅 (kku-beok-kku-beok) means: The rhythmic, involuntary head-bobbing of someone losing the battle to stay awake while sitting upright.
Natives use this to describe that specific, pathetic, yet relatable moment when your head drops and snaps back up in a loop. It’s not just 'being sleepy'; it’s the physical performance of trying to maintain a facade of alertness while your brain has already checked out. Learners often mistake this for general fatigue, but it specifically captures that repetitive, gravity-defying motion that usually happens in a lecture, a meeting, or on a crowded subway.
Other sides of 꾸벅꾸벅
◆ The Formal Apology — While textbooks focus on its drowsy usage, natives use this to describe the frantic, 'bobbing' motion of someone who is apologizing so profusely they look like a broken spring. It captures the visual of a social 'submission'—where the person isn't just bowing once, but repeatedly dipping their head to show they are truly out of excuses. Learners often mistake this for a standard polite bow (인사), but it actually signals a moment of high-stakes social discomfort or desperate pleading.
How it's actually used
- 회의 중에 꾸벅꾸벅 졸다가 팀장님한테 딱 걸렸어.
hoe-ui jung-e kku-beok-kku-beok jol-da-ga tim-jang-nim-han-te ttak geol-lyeot-seo.
I was nodding off during the meeting and got caught red-handed by the team lead.
💡 Shows how the word implies a failed attempt to remain professional. - 지하철에서 꾸벅꾸벅하는 사람 보면 진짜 안쓰러워.
ji-ha-cheol-e-seo kku-beok-kku-beok-ha-neun sa-ram bo-myeon jin-jja an-sseu-reo-wo.
I feel really bad for people I see bobbing their heads on the subway.
💡 Highlights the empathetic, observational tone often used with this word. - 밤새 공부하느라 수업 시간에 꾸벅꾸벅 졸았네.
bam-sae gong-bu-ha-neu-ra su-eop si-gan-e kku-beok-kku-beok jol-at-ne.
I was nodding off in class because I pulled an all-nighter studying.
💡 Connects the physical action to the common student experience of exhaustion.
Related words in Sounds & Sensations
꾸덕꾸덕 kku-deok-kku-deok쿨쿨 kul-kul몽글몽글 mong-geul-mong-geul너덜너덜 neo-deol-neo-deol느릿느릿 neu-rit-neu-rit